The Legend Of Zelda Wind Waker: A Future That Requires Us (Spoilers)

You get behind the hull of your small, rickety sailboat, staring out at the horizon. A seemingly endless ocean of blue despair. The wind power being the engine which keeps our hopes alive that you will be able to save this world. Its denizens stranded in small island communities, terrestrial life clinging to existence in a world fraught with hostility and treachery. They place their faith in you, the one with the power to make the impact, to save what little we have left. And why would you want to save this?

Well we haven’t gotten there yet, first you’ve got to save your little sister. Stolen away from you by the mysterious magician taking the form of a blue bird, the Helmaroc King. You embark on your journey via a group of pirates led by their sassy leader, Tetra. She commands such respect yet she doesn’t seem all that much older than you. No time for questions, kid. Do you want to save your sister or not? Say goodbye to your grandmother, you won’t be around here all that much longer.

We’ve successfully infiltrated the Forbidden Fortress, even more decrepit than the open seas. She’s here somewhere. It’s heavily guarded with spotlights and patrols. You’re not used to sneaking are you? Don’t worry, you won’t have to very long, confusingly it doesn’t come back in any meaningful form. But don’t worry, you’re just as handy with a sword as you ever were, in fact there’s a swiftness to your swings and spins, a feeling of gracefulness you may have lacked before. In fact, it’s never felt better! You find your sister, caged together with many other hostages, young girls all her age. The king takes you to a mysterious black robbed man. He orders you to be thrown into the sea.

Dazed, confused, and washed up on the shores of Windfall Island, we are greeted by a talking boat. Naturally. He must be the one who saved us. His name is The King Of Red Lions. He’s not here by coincidence. He needs your help. The hero of time’s power is the only entity capable of giving us a chance. Our journey has truly begun. 

The world is barren, yet in it’s vastness carries a quiet and underlying beauty to it. Life goes on. No matter how dangerous the open seas, they are teeming with treasure and assistance along your journey. Society continues to function, albeit separated by the open ocean. An undercurrent of hope is evident throughout its people. They try their best, they know it can be better, but are not quite sure how. Even so they persevere, endeavor to do what they can. A strong dosage of infectious humility. They are worth trying for, even if some of them are not. Self-centered, materialistically driven egotism, the humble surroundings are not quite so convincing to them. 

As geographically empty as this world feels, it’s patrolled by dangerous creatures, pirate boats (the bad kind), and hefty storms. On the small islands you encounter across the seas, assistance in the form of interaction with others, helping them with forging relationships with fellow citizens, delivering letters, watering plants with special water. And the world gives back in the form of currency, useful items, even accompanying you on dangerous dungeon dives. Regardless of the state of the world, it not only feels alive, but alive with optimism. The wind that guides you along the sea knows the way. It wants you to succeed. It feels like a comforting, reassuring presence.

We return to the fortress. After gaining the power required to take on this mysterious force, the Master Sword! With Tetra right behind us, we are able to free our sister and all of the other hostages! However, the Helmaroc King was one thing. This man in black robes is another. Ganondorf. You and Tetra are no match for him. He recognizes Tetra’s necklace. It’s her, she is the girl he has been looking for all this time. The Master Sword is powerless against him as we are saved by allies we’ve made along the way. We must find a way to power it back up. The King Of Red Lions reveals himself to be none other than the king of the fallen kingdom: Hyrule. The former empire lays dormant beneath the surface of the ocean. There’s a reason we came here. We are the descendants of those who came before us. Link, and Tetra, the long forgotten Princess Zelda. She must be kept safe while we find a way to power up the Master Sword, whose power has lain dormant.

It’s is through the characterization of the major characters, the king, Ganondorf, even Link that we are endeared to what we are taking part in even further. Link is the most lifelike he’s yet been. It’s not just his exaggerated facial expressions with a range of emotions he shows across the major narrative beats. He doesn’t just have a living space, he has a home. A family to come back to, a sister he loves dearly, a grandmother who loves him even more-so, happily making her healthy soup for us whenever we need to recharge. Outset island knows this family, they are a valued member of this small tight-knit community.

We’re familiar with Ganondorf, but this time he feels, different. A sympathetic Ganondorf that has dimension, reasoning for his evil streak. A desire to belong, to feel “that wind” that others are entitled to, that guides them along this uncertain journey of life, that he himself has yet to feel. He’s neglected, with no way in but to destroy anyone keeping him from that strong desire. The King Of Hyrule all too aware of the path Ganondorf has decided was the undoing of his once dominant empire. The symmetry is not lost on him. His desire to see the cyclical nature of sentient life be undone by us. They have a future they are in control of, not to live in the shadows of who came before them. Be their own people. Form their own belief system. Create hope where there previously was none. 

The dogmas of the past can have drastic, potentially catastrophic ramifications for the future. Not only our own but for future generations. The shared human experience that transcends any singular period of time or generation is more important to the world than our own selfish desires for material gain, should you have the power to make a large scale impact. A message so profoundly reinforced by those who give you the chance, the opportunity to believe and apply that belief to the lessons learned by those who came before us, embarrassed by their shortcomings and those who had no power or influence to make the difference. Sometimes it may not look like much, but it is worth saving. We are capable of so much better than our worst and most selfish desires suggest.